Mailbag

Letters from our readers

"Mailbag" Continued...

Just a dodge

Joel Belz asked the right question of Mitt Romney regarding the historical facts about Mormonism ("Is Romney rolling?" May 19). Romney's reply was a dodge, and the question is not "hypothetical." The facts are there for anyone to examine. Whether or not Romney gains the nomination, may all Mormons come to know that salvation is not in the Mormon Church or the writings of Joseph Smith, but only through faith in the risen Savior. -Dan Marshall; Monroe, N.C.

I am not as concerned about Romney's Mormonism as much as I am with the fact that he has only recently endorsed pro-life values. -Jeff Symons; Flint, Mich.

Evangelical Christians need to say "No!" to Romney. He is the most dangerous candidate running for president from either party. -Mark Harding; Portland, Ore.

I was troubled to learn that many Christian leaders are falling into the trap of believing that "good morals" outweigh a presidential candidate's belief system. Mormons would like us to believe that their faith is merely an extension or an enhancement of Christianity. It is not. Electing a Mormon to the highest office in our country would bring validity to a religion that is opposed to Christianity. -Angie Renich; Eugene, Ore.

It doesn't surprise me that Romney flip-flops on his stands on important issues. Anyone who has examined the Mormons over the last 40 years will realize that this is the method that they employ to appear to be a mainstream Christian denomination. If people really knew what their cult teaches, I would hope that they'd be as alarmed as those of us are who do. -Camille Hess; Arlington, Texas

Lighted classrooms

`0 While I agree with Marvin Olasky regarding the larger goal of building up strong Christian colleges ("No student is an island," May 19), there should also be a concerted effort toward employing Christians in our state colleges and universities. Christian professors could be tremendous salt and light to students in some very dark places. -Esther Ziol; Pasadena, Calif.

Olasky's story of bold-faced discrimination on the eve of his dissertation defense is poignant, but "our larger goal" should not be building strong Christian colleges. The research universities hold enormous cultural authority. There is little chance Christian colleges will ever gain this, and many families who cannot afford private Christian colleges send their kids to state schools anyway. Why not strengthen efforts, like Christian study centers, to offer these students Christian intellectual refuge and to turn things around at these major institutions? -Bob Osburn; Minneapolis, Minn.

I just recently graduated from the University of Florida's very Liberal Arts and Sciences College. While I am thankful to God for sustaining me in my faith, I am embarrassed to admit that amidst the mocking of creation, faith, and absolute morality, I became ashamed of the gospel. Olasky described it perfectly as a "slow toxic buildup." The liberal relativism slowly seeps into your system until you are left trying to defend a system of beliefs, arguing and debating but forgetting that you are one reborn. -Sarah Priem; Dunnellon, Fla.

The higher power

As a believer in Christ who was raised in an alcoholic home, I was interested in "AA revisited" (May 19). I've always been troubled by the generic higher power model found in secular recovery rooms, so I stopped going. Our church plans to start a program in which the participant's identity is in the saving power of Jesus Christ, not in his or her particular addiction. -Woody Roller; Waxhaw, N.C.

I found myself falling into the "disease" mentality as family members went through "recovery" 10 to 15 years ago. I appreciate "D" taking the time to write and I agree with his message. -Jackie Nevins; Noblesville, Ind.

As a young man I struggled with a serious drinking problem, known only to those closest to me. One night, 26 years ago, a fellow alcoholic Christian prayed for my deliverance. I have not drunk alcohol since that night. I have always felt something is wrong with a program that requires, as AA does, that each week a person confess sickness and failure rather than the power of Jesus Christ to heal and change lives. -Harry Swofford; Oregon City, Ore.

France's inexperience

Joel Belz's statement that "France [is] in some ways a little farther down the same road that the United States is traveling" ("Our American friends," May 19) paints a too-pessimistic picture of our destiny. Protestantism was stamped out early in France, leaving it dominated by a repressive Catholicism. France has never experienced our Great Awakenings or a disestablished evangelical presence. Perhaps the church in America has weakened in recent decades, but it has and will retain for generations to come a vitality that France has never known and, without miraculous intervention, is unlikely ever to know. -Kerry Dougan; Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic

Small givers give

Joel Belz has brought me to tears, again ("Junk the junk mail", May 12). This is the second time he has told us that small gifts are costly to the recipient and we should stop giving them. But I believe Christian ministries want more than financial support, and many small givers give, with joy, much more than their small monetary gifts-we pray! -Virginia Prochazka; Franklin, Ill.

We just can't handle all the mail we receive each day. We pray for our country, our president, the troops, and sick and needy people. We will continue to do so, perhaps with greater zeal as we eliminate the time spent in reading and tossing mail into the basket each day. -Homer & Winifred Kenyon; Clermont, Fla.

As someone who is involved with direct mail fundraising, I can give another side to Christian junk mail. There are more parachurch organizations than ever before, and we are competing for your support dollars. Fundraising by web page and email has yet to be as fruitful as paper mail, and it is the most effective way for nonprofits to tell their stories. With our society becoming increasingly digital, we may soon see the decline of direct mail fundraising, but not until another fundraising vehicle takes its place. -James Morgan; New Castle, Pa.

Devotional stuff

Andrée Seu encouraged this aging pastor of a small church ("Betrayal," May 12). When I consider the splash some of my peers have made in the culture, even receiving up to 30 minutes of fame, the "devotional stuff" of diligently expounding and applying God's word every week seems rather bland by comparison. Yet through such "devotional stuff" Christ changes lives for eternity. -William Horner; Princess Anne, Md.

The morning word

Tony Woodlief hit my heart dead center in "Mornings" (May 5). How many times have I woken with a song in my heart because the sun is up, the night has passed, and a whole day is ahead. You see, my infant daughter has seizures during her sleep at night. The fears crowd in at night, but when my soul grows weary the dawn comes and hope springs anew every morning that we may yet beat this thing. Thank you for reminding me that it's not just the next day I am rejoicing in, but that final morning when we shall see God face to face and all our fears will pass away. -Elizabeth Adams; Oroville, Calif.

I am not one to cut out magazine articles, but this column is hanging on my refrigerator for mornings when I need this word. -Rose Hexum; Vadnais Heights, Minn.